closure

Abstract

A closure for a beverage container is provided. The closure comprises a generally cylindrical body (2) and a foldable handle (1) movable with respect to the body between a folded, stowed position and an unfolded, carrying position. The body comprises an annular rebate (23) for receiving the handle in the stowed position. The handle is joined to the body by one or more non-frangible links (6) and frangible bridges (3) are formed integrally between the handle and body, thereby allowing the closure to be moulded with the handle in the stowed position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a closure for a container and particularly, although not exclusively, to a closure cap for a beverage bottle and with the closure providing a handle for carrying the bottle.

[0002] The present invention seeks to provide improvements in or relating to closures having an integrated handle.

[0003] An aspect of the present invention provides a closure comprising a body and a foldable handle movable with respect to the body between a folded, stowed position and an unfolded, carrying position, the body receives the handle in the stowed position, and in an as-moulded condition material is formed integrally between the handle and body, thereby allowing the closure to be moulded with the handle in the stowed position.

[0004] The material may, for example, be one or more frangible bridges and / or a thin layer of material. The presence of material in the as-moulded state results in flow paths for material during moulding.

[0005] In some embodiments the closure has substantially circular section (e.g. being generally cylindrical). In other embodiments the closure has a non-circular section e.g. polygonal.

[0006] The body may provide a peripheral recess, rebate or the like for accommodating the handle in the stowed position.

[0007] The closure may be injection moulded in one piece.

[0008] An aspect of the present invention provides a closure for a beverage container, comprising a generally cylindrical body and a foldable handle movable with respect to the body between a folded, stowed position and an unfolded, carrying position, the body comprises a seat for receiving the handle in the stowed position, the handle is joined to the body by one or more non-frangible links, and frangible bridges are formed integrally between the handle and body, thereby allowing the closure to be moulded with the handle in the stowed position.

[0009] The term “seat” does not necessarily mean that the handle must abut (be in physical contact with) the body, but rather that a space / recess / rebate is provided by the body and is occupied by the handle.

[0010] In some embodiments the closure is configured to be formed by injection moulding.

[0011] Closures may be formed from a plastics material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0012] Post-consumer recycled (PCR) material may be used. A mixture of PCR and virgin material may be used.

[0013] Closures may be mono-material.

[0014] The frangible bridges may extend radially between the handle and the body.

[0015] In some embodiments the frangible bridges are configured to break so as to leave the majority of the bridge on the base, rather than on the handle. This means that the ring does not have any / much residual bridge on its interior surface, meaning that the broken bridges do not interfere with the customer experience when holding the handle.

[0016] In some embodiments, for example, frangible bridges are generally conical.

[0017] The handle may be generally annular.

[0018] In some embodiments the closure comprises a side wall closed at one end by a top plate and at the other end provided with a generally annular band, and in which frangible bridges are formed integrally between the body and the band, thereby allowing the closure to be moulded in one piece.

[0019] The side wall may be joined to the band by one or more non-frangible links whereby the side wall and the band are tethered together. In use, when the closure is connected to a container the band can be configured to be non-removable from the container so as to tether the closure to the container.

[0020] The non-frangible connection between the band and the side wall may be configured to provide a hinge arrangement whereby the body can be removed from the container (e.g. by unscrewing) and hinged away from the container to allow dispensing of product, whilst the closure remains tethered to the container.

[0021] The hinge region may be on the opposite side of the closure to the region in which the handle folds.

[0022] The hinge may provide a stable open position. For example the hinge may comprise a tongue or other retaining feature which engages a container neck to hold the closure body open.

[0023] The handle and the base may include cooperating clip means for clipping the handle to the base in the stowed position.

[0024] The body may comprise one or more regions of increased radius which extends at least part way therearound and in which the region / s form the seat.

[0025] In some embodiments the sidewall has a plurality of axial ribs, and the ribs can provide the seat.

[0026] In some embodiments the handle is generally hoop-like.

[0027] The handle may have one or more roots on the base.

[0028] In some embodiments the handle has only one root.

[0029] In some embodiments the handle has two mutually spaced roots.

[0030] The or each root may provide or be formed as or part of a hinge or bend point.

[0031] The or each root may comprise a material thinning.

[0032] Roots may be connected to a top plate / panel and / or a side wall.

[0033] Frangible bridges may be formed integrally with a top plate / panel and / or a side wall and / or side wall ribs and / or a ring seat.

[0034] In some embodiments the base comprises guide means for centring the handle on the base when the handle is moved to the stowed position.

[0035] A further aspect provides a closure comprising a generally circular top panel and a side wall depending from the periphery thereof, the side wall comprises a plurality of axial ribs which extend along the side wall and terminate spaced from the top panel so as collectively to define a generally annular rebate, the closure further comprises a generally annular carry ring movable between a carry position and a stored position, in which in the stored position the carry ring is received by the rebate, and in which the base comprises guide means for centring the handle on the base when the handle is moved to the stored position.

[0036] In some embodiments, for example, guide means comprise one or more slopes or the like on the base.

[0037] The carry ring may have approximately the same diameter as the annular rebate.

[0038] The carry ring may be generally flush with the top panel when in the stored position.

[0039] The closure may comprise one or more frangible bridges connecting the carry ring and the side wall in the region axially between the top panel and the rebate.

[0040] Existing closures of this general type are moulded with the ring “open” and then pressed closed during an assembly operation.

[0041] Embodiments of the present invention may be moulded closed.

[0042] The inclusion of frangible bridges may be used to provide material flow paths in a mould between parts of a closure (e.g. between a ring and a body).

[0043] The side wall may comprise axial ribs and / or crenelations in the region axially between the top panel and the rebate.

[0044] The closure may comprise a ring integrated into the top plate of a closure and on a bottom end a tethered tamper band, both connected to the closure shell by means of bridges, in order to create a mono-material, one-piece and one-stage production closure.

[0045] The closure may comprise an opening indicator located in the front of the shell advising a consumer where to lift the carry-ring, thus allowing to pass a finger for transportation on the-go or to be able to hang the beverage container somewhere.

[0046] The opening indicator may, for example, comprise a triangular relief.

[0047] Closures formed in accordance with the present invention may be configured as a screw cap.

[0048] Some embodiments provide or relate to a concept to integrate a ring to the top plate of a closure in order to create a mono-material, one-piece and one-stage production closure.

[0049] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more of:

[0050] Closure in moulded position

[0051] Tethered beverage closure with carry-ring, in moulded position

[0052] Carry-ring open & reclose

[0053] Carry-ring locking

[0054] Optional front knurl design

[0055] Optional rear knurl design

[0056] The present invention also provides a closure as described herein in combination with a container.

[0057] The container may be a bottle, such as a beverage bottle made from plastics material.

[0058] Different aspects and / or embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

[0059] Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

[0060] The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

[0061] Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0062] Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

[0063] The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles “a,”“an,” and “the” are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,”“comprising,”“includes,” and / or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0064] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0065] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a tethered beverage closure (10) providing an integral carry-ring.

[0066] The closure (10) has got on his top panel (50) a carry-ring (1) connected to the body / shell (2) by radially oriented and frangible bridges (3) (shown intact in FIG. 1 and broken in FIG. 3), thus allows as such to be integrally moulded in an injection tool. The sidewall (21) of the shell (2) has a plurality of axial ribs (22). The ribs do not extend all the way to the top panel. Each of the ribs (22) is generally triangular / wedge shaped and terminate with generally flat upper surfaces (23) that collectively help to define provide a rebate for the ring (1).

[0067] The carry-ring itself (1) offers in the front a locking mechanism (4) enabling the system to be reclosed after first or multiple usage when carrying the bottle on the-go.

[0068] In the back a portion (5) remains attached to the top panel, whereas each side of the said attached portion (5) are acting as hinges (6) allowing the carry-ring (1) to be flipped back for transportation by hand with the finger.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows a closure (110) similar to the closure (10) and shown attached (screwed on) to a bottle (in this case a beverage bottle, such as a water bottle).

[0070] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a tethered beverage closure 210 formed according to a further embodiment. The closure (210) is shown with a carry-ring (201) stowed / closed in FIG. 5 and lifted / open in FIG. 6.

[0071] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the closure (210) is in an as-moulded condition.

[0072] The closure (210) has got on his top panel a carry-ring (201) and on the bottom end a tethered tamper band (207), both connected to the shell (202) by means of bridges, thus allow as such to be integrally moulded in the tool.

[0073] A triangular relief or opening indicator (208) located in the front of the shell (202) advising consumer where to lift carry-ring (201), thus allowing to pass a finger for transportation on the-go or to be able to hang the beverage container somewhere.

[0074] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate carry-ring open and reclose.

[0075] Once carry-ring (201) has been teared or separated from the bridges (203), a hinge (206) keeps the connection in between the shell (202) and the ring (201). During consumer handling, the ring (201) will be likely ovalized due to beverage container load. To enable a proper re-closing of ring (201), a few features radially oriented on top edge of the shell (202), described as guiding slope (209) will help to provide good guidance and conform the ring back to reach its former position.

[0076] FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate carry-ring locking.

[0077] When ring (201) is crossing over the centering studs (210) located just below the guiding slope (209), a final locking position of the ring (201) can be reached by the consumer when the ring undercut feature (211) locks under the shell clipping tongues (212). Most likely an audible sound will notice the consumer that end position has been reached. At that stage, the ring (21) is no longer parallel versus the top panel, appearing slightly tilted (see FIG. 12).

[0078] FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an optional front knurl design, near the locking mechanism. Nearly located on each side of the clipping tongues (312), the shell (302) has got cutouts areas (313) resulting in shortened knurls (314). This allows locally an additional and flexible displacement / deformation / bending (315) to the ring (301), thus, eases engagement of the locking mechanism when pushed down by consumer.

[0079] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate an optional rear knurl design, near the hindle hinging region. In this embodiment the base has shortened ribs (416) over a limited part of the circumference and generally in the region of where the handle (401) is non-frangibly connected i.e. at the hinge point (417). This means that when the handle is lifted it does not contact the ribs, as illustrated in FIG. 17.

[0080] FIG. 18 shows a magnified view of a guide / centring slope (509) and a broken frangible bridge (503). The bridge (503) is partly conical and this causes the bridge to break preferentially to leave little or no residual bridge on the associated ring (not shown). FIG. 19 shows an intact bridge (502). This principle could be used for bridges between a ring and a base and / or a base and a retention / tethering band.

[0081] FIGS. 20 to 24 shows a closure (610) formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and shown connected to a container neck (630). The ring (601) is shown stowed on the body (602).

[0082] In FIG. 21 the ring (601) has been lifted whilst the closure remains closed on the neck. This allows, for example the ring (601) to be used to lift / hang / carry the closure / container pack.

[0083] In FIGS. 22 and 23 the closure shell is being unscrewed from the neck.

[0084] A retention band (625) is non-frangibly connected to the closure body (602) by two flexible arms (626, 627) with a tongue (628) provided in between the arms. The band is non-removably connected onto the neck (e.g. using a snap bead).

[0085] When the closure body (602) is unscrewed the arms (626, 627) lift and then twist, causing the tongue (628) to invert and rest against the neck, which holds the closure shell open (e.g. making it easy to drink from or otherwise dispense from the container), as shown in FIG. 24.

[0086] The closure body can be rotated back onto the neck and screwed back on. The carry ring can be re-fitted onto the shell.

[0087] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A closure for a beverage container, comprising a generally cylindrical body and a foldable handle movable with respect to the body between a folded, stowed position and an unfolded, carrying position, the body comprises a seat for receiving the handle in the stowed position, the handle is joined to the body by one or more non-frangible links, and frangible bridges are formed integrally between the handle and body, thereby allowing the closure to be moulded with the handle in the stowed position.

2. The closure according to claim 1, in which the frangible bridges extend radially between the handle and the body.

3. The closure according to claim 1. in which the handle is generally annular.

4. The closure precedingaccording to claim 1, in which the closure comprises a side wall closed at one end by a top plate and at the other end provided with a generally annular band, and in which frangible bridges are formed integrally between the body and the band, thereby allowing the closure to be moulded in one piece.

5. The closure according to claim 4, in which the side wall is joined to the band by one or more non-frangible links whereby the side wall and the band are tethered together.

6. The closure according to claim 1, in which the handle and the base include cooperating clip means for clipping the handle to the base in the stowed position.

7. The closure according to claim 1, in which the body comprises one or more regions of increased radius which extends at least part way therearound and in which the region / s form the seat.

8. The closure according to claim 1, in which the sidewall has a plurality of axial ribs, and in which the ribs provide the seat.

9. The closure according to claim 1, in which the handle is generally hoop-like.

10. The closure according to claim 1, in which the handle has one or more roots on the base.

11. The closure according to claim 10, in which the handle has only one root, or in which the handle has two spaced roots.

12. (canceled)13. The closure according to claim 10, in which the or each root provides a hinge or bend point and / or in which the or each root comprises a material thinning.

14. (canceled)15. The closure according to claim 1, in which the base comprises guide means for centring the handle on the base when the handle is moved to the stowed position.

16. A closure comprising a generally circular top panel and a side wall depending from the periphery thereof, the side wall comprises a plurality of axial ribs which extend along the side wall and terminate spaced from the top panel so as collectively to provide a rebate, the closure further comprises a generally annular carry ring movable between a carry position and a stored position, in which in the stored position the carry ring is received by the rebate, and in which the base comprises guide means for centring the handle on the base when the handle is moved to the stored position.

17. The closure inaccording to claim 16, in which the carry ring has approximately the same diameter as the rebate.

18. The closure inaccording to claim 16, in which the carry ring is generally flush with the top panel when in the stored position.

19. The closure claimsaccording to claim 16, in which the closure comprises one or more frangible bridges connecting the carry ring and the side wall in the region axially between the top panel and the rebate.

20. The closure according to claim 16, in which the side wall comprises axial ribs or crenelations in the region axially between the top panel and the rebate.

21. A tethered beverage closure with a carry ring, the closure comprising a ring integrated into the top plate of a closure and on a bottom end a tethered tamper band, both connected to the closure shell by means of bridges, in order to create a mono-material, one-piece and one-stage production closure.

22. The closure inaccording to claim 21, in which the closure comprises an opening indicator located in the front of the shell advising a consumer where to lift the carry-ring, thus allowing to pass a finger for transportation on the-go or to be able to hang the beverage container somewhere.23-25. (canceled)

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